Information-tablet



(No Model.) Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. S. BOYNTON.

INFORMATION TABLET.

No. 258,529. Patented May 23,1882

BOSTON AT SPRINGFIELD ITH B. EKARR.

(No Model.) n 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- h. s. BOYNTON.

INFORMATION TABLET. No. 258,529; Patented MayZB, 1882.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet E. S. BOYNTON.

INFORMATION TABLET.

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E. S. BOYNTON.

INFORMATION TABLET. o. 258,529. Patented May 23, 188.2.

UNKTED STATES PATENT Carlee.

EDWARD S. BOYNTON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

INFORMATION-TABLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,529, dated May 23,1882.

Application filed January 26. 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown thatI, EDWARD STANLEY BOYN- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bridgeport,in thecountyof Fairlield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInformation-Tablets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to that class of information-tablets which embodyin their construetion a number of signs adapted to be displayed at willin various combinations, and of which the combined train-time andstation directories used at most of the large railroad-depots areexamples. In these information-tablets as heretofore constructed thechanges in the combination of the signs are effected by hand, each signthat requires removal or exchange being handled separately. Where thesechanges have to be made frequently such manipulation of the signsinvolves the expenditure of a good deal of time and labor, and mistakesare liable to be made.

The object of my invention is to improve thesechangeableinformation-tablets by so constructing them that the changes may be maderapidly and with unerring accuracy. To this end the leading feature ofmy improvement consists of the combination of the signs and a key forautomatically displaying a definite selection thereof, such selection ofsigns being effected either by a separate key or by a change made in acombination-key, if such be used.

I have illustrated my improvement as embodied in a train-time andstation directory the hands of which are also set automatically and by akey, either by the same which effects the display of .the selection ofsigns or by a separate one.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improvedinformation-tablet as embodied in a train-time and station directory.Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same without the back easing-plate.Fig. 3 is a vertion of a key. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are illusj trationsof the directory, some of which are drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 10illustrates one of the Jacquard keys, also drawn on an enlarged scale. I

The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

The various mechanical devices are arranged in and on a case, A, theface or front of which is provided with a time-dial, A, and two openpanels below it, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. In the open panels arearranged two sets of horizontal signs, a a a a a a and b b b I) b b Inthis instance the signs are square wooden bars, on one side of which thename of a station on the road or other information is paintsign-tumblersdepend in a row through holes in the bottom of case A, and they are sograduated in length as to all terminate at one and the same line. Thesign-tumblers are pushed up to turn the signs, so as to expose theirlettered sides. For this purpose the Jacquard key C-a thin fiat strip ofsuitable material, such as card-board, for instance-As used. A differentkey is used for each selection of signs to be displayed, the keys beingpunched at points corresponding to the tumblers of such of the signs asare not to be displayed, so as to allow such tumblers to enter the holesin the key while the rest of the tumblers are being pushed up by theimperforate portion of the key. p

In order that the key may be readily and accurately applied to thetumblers, I provide ICO a movable keyholder, B, attached to the lowerends of guide-rods B and B which pass up into the case and have theirupper ends connected by a bar, B for a purpose presently to bedescribed. The key-holder is provided with vertical holes registeringwith the tumblers, and with a recess in its upper side, in which thekeys fit pretty snugly. It is con structed with a pull, D, forconveniently moving it up and down, a latch, d, being fastened to thestem of such pull for locking the holder to the case after it has beenpushed up and the key in it has etfected the display of the desiredselection of signs.

For the purpose of setting the hands of the train-time indicatorsimultaneously with the displaying of the signs, I provide the followingmechanism The hour-hand shaft and the minute-hand shaft are respectivelyextended into the case, a pinion, h, beingfixed on the hour-hand shaftand a pinion, m, on the minute-hand shaft within the case. Pinion hmeshes with the teeth on the upper end of the vertical rackbar H, andpinion m meshes with the teeth on the upper end of the vertical rack-barG. These rack-bars are movable vertically in suitable guides to theextent of turning the pinions h and m an entire revolution. The lowerend of rack-bar H is provided with teeth standingat right angles to theteeth on its upper end and meshing with the pinion c on the shaft orcylinder E, which is journaled in hearings on a. bar, M, of the case.The lower end of rackbar G is also provided with teeth standing at rightangles to the teeth on its upper end and meshing with the pinion fon theshaft or cylinder F, which is journaled in hearings on a bar, N, of thecase some distance below bar M. The pinions c and f are of the samediameter and have the same number of teeth as the pinions h and 121, sothat the pinions h and m will be moved respectively through the same arethrough which tlre pinions c andf may be moved. The rack-bars passthrough a fork on cross-bar B on the key-holder guiderods, and areprovided with cross-pins p p below said fork. A spiral spring, 8,encircles each rack-bar between the cross-pin 1) and the bar M of thecase, tending to move the rackbars upward. The extent of the possiblemovements of the rack-bars is governed by and is in this instance equalto the movements of the key-holder, and the hands of the dial are soarranged that they will both point to the figure XII when the key-holderreaches its lowest position. The movement of the key-holder may besuitably regulated. The hands, if not pointing to the figure XII, arealways turned back to that figure by moving the key-holder to its lowestposition. The forward movements of the hands due to the resilient actionof the springs s s on the rack-bars is determined by the Jacquard keyand governed by the cylinders E and F and the two rows of verticaltumblers a and 0, which tumblers I call collectively the time-tumblers,to distinguish them from the sign-tumblers; and to distinguish the setmarked a from the set marked 0, I name the former hour-tumblers and thelatter minutetumblers. These time-tumblers are rods the upper ends ofwhich terminate in return-bends. These lower ends pass through and areguided in holes in the bottom of case A. The returnbends of thehourtumblers pass down through and are guided in holes in the bar M ofthe case, while the return-bends of the minute-tumblers pass downthrough and are guided in holes in the the bar N of the case. Thereturn-bends of the hour-tumblers rest on the top of cylinder E in astraight row, and the return-bends of the minute-tumblers rest on top ofcylinder F in a straight row. The return-bends of the time-tumblers aredistributed over about the whole length of the respective cylinders, atequal distances apart. Each cylinder is provided with a spiral groove,which extends over the whole length of the cylinder and makes one fullturn in the length occupied by the row of time-tumblers or theirreturn-bends. One edge of the spiral grooves forms a square shoul dcr,adapted to be engaged by any one of the time-tumblers, as shown in Fig.(i, to stop the revolutions of the cylinders in the directionin whichthey are turned by the upward movement of the rack-bars.

It will be observed that by using a row of sixty minute-tumblers theminute-hand may be turned to any minute on the dial by causing theproper minute-tumbler to descend into and engage the shoulder of thespiral groove in cylinder F. I have shown only twelve |ninutetumblersand twelve hour-tumblers; butin practice sixty minute-tumblers will beused and alike number of hour-tumblers, so that the hour-hand may bemade to indicate the hours and every fifth (twelve minutes) of eachhour. Thearrangementot'thepartsissuchthat when the rack-bars aredepressed to their lowest position the hour-tumbler at one end ofthe rowof hour-tumblers and the minute-tumblers at the similar end of the rowof minutetnmblers will descend into and engage the square shoulders ofthe spiral grooves in the cylinders E and F and lock the same, so thatthe rack-bars cannot be moved up by the re silience of their springsunless these time-tumblers are lifted out of the grooves of thecylinders. hen the cylinders are thus locked by the end time-tumblersthe hands both point to the figure XII on the dial.

In order to set the hand for indicating any desired time on the dial, Iuse either the same Jacquard key which effects the display of the signsor a separate Jacquard key properly punched to hit all thetilne-tumblersexcept the two-one hour-tumbler and one minute-tumbler-which will lockthe cylinders E and F at the moment or moments when the hands have beenturned to the proper point or points on the dial. It will be observedthat by the time the key has lifted the time-tumblers the crossbar B ofthe key-holder has reached its highest point, so that the rack-bars Hand G are free to be moved up from their lowest to their highestposition by the resilience of their springs.

In order to cause a gradual expansion and action of the springs s s onthe hand-setting mechanism, I connect the rack-bars H and G by links toto the movable leaves of a pair of independent bellows, V and V, whichare suitably fixed in the upper part of the case A. The bellows arecompressed on the depression of the rack-bars, and as they must beexpanded on the ascent of the rack-bars the speed of the upward movementof thelatter can be regulated by the size of the air-inlet valves of thebellows. Any other known kind of governor may be used in lieu of thebellows.

1n practice I propose to furnish for information-tablets operated byJacquard keys blank keys printed with rings or other marks correspondingto the positions of the several tumblers of the tablet, so that the usermay himself punch the blanks to obtain such keys as he may require toenable him to exhibit any information within the compass of the tablet.To facilitate the punching of the blank keys, each ring in thesign-column will be marked with the same information which is on thesign controlled by that part of the key, and each ring in thetime-columns will be. marked with the time which can be indicated bypunching that part of the key. Fig. 10 illustrates such a key, (therings in the sign-column being numbered,) the rings 1 2 5 6 at theleft-hand end of the sign-column and the rings in the timecolumnsrepresenting the twelfth hour and six tieth minute having been punched.v

The Jacquard key is only one form of key by which a combination of signsmay be automatically displayed on an information-tablet; and I do notlimit myself in my claims to keys of the Jacquard style unless the keyis qualitied as such in the claim. Instead of such Jacquard keys,rotatory keys having either perforations or series of bits may be used.Nor do I confine myself primarily to such applications of a key asrequire intermediate tumblers or equivalent devices for displaying thesigns, because the key might be applied to act directly on the signs. Onthe other hand, the signs might be displayed through the medium ofelectrical circuits, in which case the key might have theform ofaporte-rule for closing the required circuit at one operation and froman office at a distance. The signs might be slid instead of oscillated;or they might be stationary and combined with movable shutters forhiding and displaying them.

2. In an information-tablet,the combination,

substantially as before set forth, of a number of signs, atime-indicator, and a key or keys for automatically displaying adeterminate selection of signs and setting the hands of thetimeindicator.

3. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the signs anda removable Jacquard key for automatically displaying a determinateselection thereof.

4. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the signs, thesign-tumblers, and a removable Jacquard key.

5. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the dial andhour and minute hands, the springactuated rack-bars and pinions, thelocking-cylinders, the time-tumblers, and a removable Jacquard key.

6. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the signs, thesign-tumblers, the removable Jacquard key, and the movable key-holder. I

7. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the dial andhour and minute hands, the spring-actuated rack-bars and pinions, thelocking-cylinders, the time-tumblers, a removable Jacquard key, and themovable key-holder.

8. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of thespring-actuated rack-bars and pinions and the bellows or governors forgoverning the resilient action of the springs.

9. An imperforate Jacquard key-blank, (from which Jacquard keys foroperating information-tablets of above description may be prepared byperforating the blank at determinable points,) consisting of a strip ofcard-board or other stiff material provided with marks of a definitenumber and arrangement, each such mark being designated by a word orletter or numeral (one or more of each) corresponding to the informationthat may be displayed on the particular tablet for which the blank isdesigned.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD STANLEY novnron.

Witnesses:

0. A. NEALE, O. S. HYER.

